Wizards sunk by Crew

The Kansas City Wizards fell 1-0 to the first-place Columbus Crew despite outshooting the Crew 18-7.

Columbus converted the game’s only goal in the 64th minute when Emilio Renteria headed home a corner kick from Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

The Wizards controlled possession for most of the match but could not find an equalizer in front of an energetic, sellout crowd Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Midfielder Davy Arnaud delivered Kansas City's first shot on goal in the second minute after a restart taken by Jimmy Conrad deflected to Arnaud, who made a move to the right and sent a shot low toward the far post. Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer went to ground to make his first of six saves on the afternoon.

Wizards keeper Jimmy Nielson kept the game tied in the 10th minute after Guillermo Barros Schelotto laid a ball off for an open Eddie Gaven on the left wing. Gaven carried the ball deep into the box from midfield, but was unable to beat Nielsen with a low shot.

Rookie striker Teal Bunbury, who made his first start of the season, was active early and often in the match. In the 18th minute, he took a low strike off a pass from Jack Jewsbury that was unable to fool Hesmer. Unphased, Bunbury delivered a great pass to Arnaud who sent the one-touch shot just wide of the post in the 22nd minute. The Wizards had another chance just after in the 23rd minute when Graham Zusi sent a hard shot just over the crossbar after Bunbury made a great tackle to win the ball and played ahead to Zusi.

The Wizards came close again in the 25th minute after Arnaud, who made a great run down the left wing, slid a cross toward Bunbury inside the penalty area, but Crew defender Danny O’Rourke stepped in and knocked the ball out for a corner.

The second half started much like the first, with the Wizards on the attack. Bunbury created two good chances right away in the 47th and 48th minutes. Kamara sent a header just over the crossbar off a Bunbury cross, and Graham Zusi stuck a ball wide of frame after Bunbury held the ball up and laid a pass backward to the onrushing midfielder.

The game quickly turned on a set piece for Columbus in the 64th minute. Guillermo Barros Schelotto delivered a corner kick into the danger area, and Emilio Renteria, who came on as a 59th minute substitution, was able to beat 'keeper Jimmy Nielsen with a header from close range. Columbus held onto their lead in the 71st minute when Andy Iro deflected a Ryan Smith cross heading for Kamara.

The Crew almost added to their lead in the 80th minute on another corner from Schelotto, but Steven Lenhart sent a header wide of the back post.

The Wizards drop to 2-4-2 through eight matches after winning their first two matches. Columbus held onto its undefeated record, now 6-0-2 in 8 MLS matches thus far in 2010.